About the Saint Louis Zoo

About the Saint Louis Zoo

Our Mission

The mission of the Saint Louis Zoo is to conserve animals and their habitats through animal management, research, recreation, and educational programs that encourage the support and enrich the experience of the public.

Located on 90 acres in Forest Park, the Saint Louis Zoo is home to more than 603* species of animals, many of them rare and endangered. It is one of the few free zoos in the nation and was voted America's top free attraction in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. The Zoo annually attracts 3 million visitors, who can see more than 14,840* wild animals—not including the thousands of leafcutter ants and butterflies at the Zoo.